The City of Marion has scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the Central Plaza, taking place Wednesday, May 7, at 4 p.m. in City Square Park.
The project grew out of the ImagiNEXT community visioning process. The improvements will activate the park year-round by providing flexible space for daily outdoor use and special events.
“With this project, we’re enhancing the cool factor of Marion and making Uptown a destination and living room for the region,” said Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly, in a news release. “It’s one more way in which we are delivering on our promise to create opportunity and be the best place in Iowa to raise a family and grow a business.”
The Central Plaza at City Square Park features a refrigerated ice-skating loop, enclosure of the Depot Pavilion, year-round public restrooms, live performance space, engaging water features, an interactive play sculpture, public art, seating and more. Perennial plantings, native trees, commemorative bricks and decorative lighting enhance the space.
RDG Planning and Design spearheaded the design work and Rinderknecht Associates served as the construction manager. The project implementation was informed by several working groups including City staff and community members.
The $8.35 million project received broad public and private support including a $3 million Destination Iowa grant. The Marion Park Foundation secured $1.3 million in fundraising support with the remainder covered by local option sales tax funds and general obligation bonds.
Work began in March 2024 and the project will achieve substantial completion April 2025. The art sculpture is in production and will be installed in June and the grand opening of the ice-skating loop is slated for early December.
With construction beginning on the Broad and Main on 6th building adjacent to the Central Plaza, the southeast portion of the park and former 11th Street right-of-way will remain under construction for staging and site access. As such, the commemorative brick pavers will not be installed until Broad and Main on 6th is completed, according to the release.
